Rolling mill



April l932- E. w. MlKAELS ON 1,854,597

ROLLING MILL Filed Aug. 24, 1928 Q 3 Sheets-Sheet l April 19; 1932. wMlKAELSON v 1,854,597

ROLLING MILL Filed Aug. 24, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 gmwtoz attouwq 5 April1932- E. w. MlKAELSON 1,854,597

ROLLING MILL I Filed Aug. 24, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Apr. 7 19,1932 UNITED STATES PATENT ERIK W. MIKAELSON, OF EASTONfPENNSYLVANIA,ASSIGNOR TO TREADWELL EN- GINEERING COMPANY, OF EASTON, PENNSYLVANIA, ACORPORATION OF IENN- SYLVANIA ROLLING MILL Application filed August 24,1928. Serial No. 301,805.

This invention relates to rolling mills and has for its object theprovision of novel means for supporting the necks of the rolls I midpoints in rolling operations.

The herein disclosed method of accomplishing this result consists in sosupporting the roll neck bearings that the latter may move individuallyto assume the correct po: sition of alignment with the deflected rolls.

The construction disclosed is shown as applied to a three-high rollingmill in which the rolls are supported in roller bearings mounted inbearing blocks which may move bodily within the bearing housing. It hasbeen found that the bending of the axis of a roll as a result of thesevere stresses which spread the rolls on the passing of a metal blankthrough the mill will tend to cant the roll necks and will causeexcessive wear of the supporting bearings if these bearings are fixed.It is of particular importance to permit this bodily movement of thebearing Where the rolls are mounted in roller bearings having a seriesof rows of rollers, since the deflection of the roll will throw the loadon that row of rollers which is nearest the rolling surface. Bypermitting the bearing assembly to rock within its supportin housing,the load will be uniformly distributed on the roller bearings, andexcessive wear at any one point will be prevented.

A further object of the invention is to provide supporting means for theroll bearings which may be adjusted to take up wear.

Further objects of the invention will. be apparent from the followingdescription of the inventiontaken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an end elevation of the rolling -mill embodying myinvention;

bly supporting means taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 1s a section of the bearing assem-- Figure 4: is a sectionthrough the roll necks taken on the line 4.4 of Fig. 2;

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated herein, a three-highrolling mill comprising the conventional base 10, end frames 12 and cap13 is disclosed. The base and end frames are hereinafter referred tobroadly as a housing. The necks of rolls let, 15 and 16 are journaled inbearing blocks, each block preferably having housed therein a pluralityof rows of rollers comprising anti-friction means for facilitating freerotation of the rolls. It will be understood that the use ofanti-friction bearings for the roll necks is preferred but is notessential to the invention herein disclosed since similar results maybe'obtained with any desired type of bearing. The bearing blocks 27 forthe upper and lower rolls l4: and 16 are supported in the housing in anywell-known manner and preferably as shown in Figures 2 and 5 of thedrawings, in which the bearing blocks are retained against movement inthe, direction of the roll axes by the lugs 28 which are adjustablymounted on the roll housing, vertical adjustment of the blocks beingeffected by means of the screw spindles 29 and 30. Each bearing block 17for the middle roll is provided with two hardened metallic bearingmembers 18, one 011 either side thereof, said bearing members beingretained in apertures formed in the lower surfaces of the block, asshown in Fig. 4. These bearing members rest on cooperating hardenedmetallic hearing members l9which are mounted in any convenient manner inthe housing, and are provided with convex upper surfaces which are soformed that the block is permitted to rock on the members 19 in theplane of the rolls. While the drawings disclose convex surfaces on themembers 19 only, the surfaces of the members 18 may be so formedinstead, or if desired, members 18 and 19 may present opposing convexsurfaces.

The upper support for each middle roll bearing block comprises hardenedsteel bearing members 20, which are similarly located on each side ofthe block. The members 20 are preferably seated in depressions in theblock as shown in Figure 3, and vertically seen that a downward thruston the keys 23 will serve to adjust the bars 21 and the bearing blockfor the middle roll to take up wear between the hardened bearing members18 and 19. This thrust may be provided in any well-known manner but ispreferably obtained by the use of wedge members 25 which are seated inslots in the upper side of the keys 23 and are located between thesekeys and the cap 13 of the housing. Screw theaded devices indicatedgenerally at 26 serve to move each wedge endwise to effect verticalmovement of the corresponding key 23 and bar 21. It will be noted thateach bar 21 is also provided-with a convex surface at its lower endwhich rests on the corresponding member 20, and therefore the bearingblock for the middle roll may rock or slide either on the bar 21 or themember 19.

The operation of the device will be apparent from the above, mentioneddescription taken in connection with the drawings. When the axis of themetal roll is deflected from a straight line due to the passing of metalbetween the rolls, each bearing block 17 will automatically accommodateitself to such deflection since it may partake of bodily movement withinthe supporting housing. Adjustment of the screws 26 will serve toposition the block due to wear on the hardened metallic bearing members.As a result, the thrust during the rolling operation is transmitteduniformly to the several rows of roller bearings, and excessive wear ofthe inner row is avoided.

In the event that plain bearings are used, the wear on the bearingsurfaces is uniformly distributed throughout the length thereof,

whereby the life of the bearings is prolonged and their effectiveness isincreased due to the elimination of binding of the roll necks within thebearings.

The provision of separate hardened metallic bearing members for thebearing blocks is preferable since wear on the engaging surfaces of theblocks and housing is thereby reduced, and replacement of the worn partsis facilitated. a

The invention is not restricted to the specific embodiment thereofdisclosed in this application, but may obviously be modified within thespirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a three-highrolling mill, the combination with an upper, a middle,and a lower roll, of bearing members for supporting said rolls, ahousing in which said bearing members are mounted, and means forsupporting the bearing members for the middle roll to permit rockingmovement of said members within the housing on deflection of said roll,said means each comprising a pair of hardened steel inserts in saidhousing provided with convex surfaces for engagement with the bearingmember and constituting the lower support, and an upper support, thelatter being adjustable to eliminate vertical play between saidsupporting means and said middle roll bearing member.

2. Means for supporting the middle roll of a three-high rolling mill,comprising a housing, a cap for said housing, journal bearings for eachend of the roll seated in said housing, members vertically movable insaid housing and engaging said bearings. to limit upward movementthereof, and wedges disposed between the cap and the housing foradjusting said members vertically to clamp said bearings in position.

3. A mounting for the middle roll of a three high rolling mill.comprising bearings for the ends of the roll, upper and lower hardenedsteel inserts in said bearings, a housing for supporting said bearings,hardened steel inserts in said housing for engaging said lower bearinginserts, and vertically ad ustable means for engaging said upper bearinginserts.

4. A mounting for the middle roll of a three high rolling millcomprising bearings for the ends of the roll, upper and lower hardenedsteel inserts in said bearings, a housing for supporting said bearings,hardened steel inserts in said housing for engaging said lower bearinginserts, Vertically adjustable means for engaging said upper bearinginserts, and wedges associated with said means and said housing foradjusting the bearings to eliminate-vertical play between said inserts.

5. In a three high rolling mill, the combination with an upper, a middleand a lower roll, of roller'bearing, assemblies for suporting saidrolls, a housing in which said earing assemblies are mounted, and meanscarried by' said housing for supporting the bearing assemblies for themiddle roll to permit rocking movement of said assemblies, said meanseach comprising a rigid lower support and an adjustable upper support,the engaging surfaces of said means and said assemblies being soconstructed as to produce straight line contacts therebetween.

6. In a three-high rolling mill, the combination with an upper, amiddle, and a lower roll, of bearing members for sup orting said rolls,a housing in which said hearing members are mounted, and means forsupporting the bearing members for the middle roll to permit rockingmovement of said members within the housing on deflection of said roll,said means each comprising a pair of hardened steel inserts in saidhousing provided with convex surfaces for enga ement with the bearingmember and con-. stituting the lower support, a member adjustablevertically in said housing having a convex surface in engagement withsaid bearing member and constituting an upper support, a key engagingsaid member, and a wedge for adjusting said key and member.

7 In a three-high rolling mill, the combination with an upper, a middle,and a lower roll, of roller bearing assemblies for supporting saidrolls, a housing in which said bearing assemblies are mounted, a cap onsaid housing, and means for supporting the bearing assemblies for themiddle'roll to permit rocking movement of said assemblies in the planeof the rolls on deflection of the roll, said means each comprising apair of hardened steel inserts in said housing on either side of andbelow each bearing assembly, coacting hardened steel inserts in saidassembly, a pair of vertically movable members above and on either sideof said assembly, and hardened steel inserts in said assembly contactingwith said vertically movable members, the surfaces of said members andsaid first mentioned inserts which are in engagement with said assemblyinserts being convexly formed.

8. In a three-high rolling mill, the combination with an upper, amiddle, and a lower roll, of roller bearing assemblies for supportingsaid rolls, a housing in which said bearing assemblies are mounted, acap on said housing, and means for supporting the bearing assemblies forthe middle roll to permit rocking movement of said assemblies in theplane of the rolls on deflection of the roll, said means each comprisinga pair of hardened steel inserts in said housing on either side of andbelow each bearing assembly, coacting hardened steel inserts in saidassembly, a pair of vertically movable members above and on either sideof said assembly, hardened steel inserts in said assembly contactingwith said vertically'movable members, the surfaces of said members andsaid first mentioned inserts which are in engagement with said assemblyinserts being convexly formed, and horizontally movable wedges foradjusting said vertically movable members to eliminate vertical playbetween the assembly and ,the housing inserts.

9. In a three-high rolling mill, the combination with an upper, amiddle, and a lower roll, of roller bearing assemblies for supportingsaid rolls, a housing in which said bearing assemblies are mounted, acap on said housing, and means for supporting the bearing assemblies forthe middle roll to permit rocking movement of said assemblies in theplane of the rolls on deflection of the roll,

said means each comprising a pair of hardened steel inserts in saidhousing on either side of and below each bearing assembly, coactinghardened steel inserts in said assembly, a pair of vertically movablemembers above and on either side of said assembly, hardened steelinserts in said assembly contacting with said vertically movablemembers, the surfaces of said members and said first mentioned insertswhich are in engagement with said assembly inserts being convexlyformed, a key engaging each vertically movable member and a horizontallymovable wedge engaging each key to eliminate vertical play between theassembly and the housing inserts.

10. In a three-high rolling mill, the combination with an upper, amiddle, and a lower roll, of hearings in which said rolls arejournalled, and bearing supporting means engaging said bearings, saidsupporting means and the bearings for said middle roll making straightline contacts transverse to the roll axis, said roll being otherwisefree to flex in a substantially vertical plane, whereby said bearingsmay rock in response to roll deflection.

nation with an upper, a middle, and a lower roll, of bearing members forsupporting said rolls, a housing in which said bearing members aremounted, and means for supporting the bearing members for the middleroll to permit rocking movement of said members within the housing ondeflection of said roll, said means each comprising cooperating parts onsaid bearing member and housing relatively movable about axes transverseto the roll axis.

12. In a three-high rolling mill, the combination with the upper andlower rolls, of bearing members for said rolls, a housing in which saidbearing members are mounted, means associated with said housing foradjusting said rolls toward each other, a middle roll, bearings for saidmiddle roll, means carried by said housing for supporting'said middleroll bearings for shifting movement about axes transverse to the rollaxis, and means for adjusting said supporting means with respect to thehousing to eliminate ver tical play between said supporting means andsaid middle roll bearings.

13. In a three-high rolling mill, the combination with an upper, amiddle, and a lower roll, of bearing members for supporting said rolls,a housing in which said bearing members are mounted, and means forsupporting the bearing members for the middle roll to permit rockingmovement of said members within the housing on deflection of said roll,

said means each comprising cooperating,

parts on said bearing member and housing relatively movable about axestransverse to the roll axis, and means for adjusting one of 11. In athree-high rolling mill, the combisaid parts to eliminate vertical playbetween said parts. I

14. In a three high rollingmill, the combination with an upper, amiddle, and a lower roll, of a housing, roll bearings for rotatablysupporting the necks of the middle roll, and means associated with saidhousing and resisting bodily vertical movement of said middle rollbearings and supporting the latter for tilting movement in the verticalplane including the roll axes.

15. In a three high rolling mill, the combination with an upper, amiddle, and a lower roll, of bearings in which said rolls arejournalled, and bearing supporting means engaging said bearings, saidsupporting means and the bearings for said middle roll making straightline contacts above and below the roll and transverse to the roll axis,said roll being otherwise free to flex in a substantially verticalplane, whereby said bearings may rock in response to roll deflection.

16. In a three high rolling mill, the combination with an upper, amiddle, and a lower roll, of bearing members for supportingsaid rolls, ahousing in which said bearing members are mounted, and means forsupporting the bearing members for the middle roll to permit rockingmovement of said members within the housing on deflection of said roll,said means each comprising cooperating parts on said bearing member andhousing capable of relative rocking movement in the vertical planeincluding the roll axes.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

I ERIK W. MIKAELSON.

